Funding Policy and Strategy Coordinator

International IDEA - The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Stockholm, Sweden

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance — International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. Its objective is to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building by providing knowledge resources, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policy makers, governments, UN organizations and agencies and regional organizations engaged in the field of democracy building.

International IDEA’s notable areas of expertise are: electoral processes, political parties, constitution-building processes, democracy and gender and democracy assessments. International IDEA works worldwide. It is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Brussels, New York, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Main functions of the post:

To provide leadership and effective coordination of International IDEA's strategy, policy and procedures for programme funding activities under the immediate supervision of the Director for External Relations and Governance Support:

• Strategy and Planning: To lead the strategy development process for mobilizing programme funding for the Institute, in full cooperation with the Strategic Planning Unit, and in line with recommendations from the Programme Design Committee (PDC);
• Policy and Procedural Development: To develop policy guidance, tools, procedures and system for the management of core and restricted project funding;
• Programme Development and Field Support: To build capacity of both Regions and Headquarters and provide guidance to facilitate the efforts for mobilizing programme funding;
• Quality Assurance and Resource Management: To ensure quality of project proposals, concept notes, budget plans, and reports in order to mobilize donor funds; and
• Organizational Development and Governance: To ensure timely follow-up and implementation of the recommendations of International IDEA's System-Based Audit.

Context:

International IDEA operates under an intergovernmental agreement and statutes, further developed in guidelines, adopted by the Council of Member States. The governance bodies are the Council, the Steering Committee , and the Board of Advisers. The Secretary-General is appointed by the Council and is responsible for the daily running of the institute in all its aspects. The External Relations and Governance Support team supports the Secretary­ General in the oversight and coordination of the maintenance and development of external relations, including the servicing of the governance bodies, fundraising and the constant communications with Member States, donors and other strategic partners .

International IDEA's Strategy and the current Workplan set the framework within which International IDEA's activities are coordinated.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the immediate supervision of the Director for External Relations and Governance Support the incumbent performs the following duties:

• Supervises the implementation of the institution-wide Resource Mobilization and Financing Strategy under guidance from the Director for External Relations and Governance Support;
• Establishes and coordinates the work of a proposed institutional Task Force to implement the Resource Mobilization and Financing Strategy;
• Reviews, enhances and ensures the application of IDEA's Partnerships, Programme Funding and Representation Procedure;
• Participates and provides inputs to the process for the development of IDEA's new Project Management Framework;
• Serves as the coordinator and focal point for Results Based Management processes owned by the Director for External Relations and Governance Support;
• Develops and contributes to IDEA's electronic grants management system in Maconomy;
• Supports the Finance team in the development of a database of financial contributions received and outstanding from donors;
• Develops, plans and monitors IDEA's Representation and Donor Engagement Calendar;
• Designs, coordinates, and organizes Annual Strategic Consultations with major donors and partners;
• Provides support and guidance to IDEA regional/country offices and Headquarters to effectively manage their fundraising activities, grant management, and donor reporting requirements;
• Provides training to regional offices and headquarters on quality project proposal development and methodologies;
• Gathers strategic intelligence regarding various key donors, including but not limited to their areas of interest and upcoming calls for proposals;
• Develops high-quality project proposal documentation and budget in cooperation with Corporate Services and programmatic teams;
• Manages and coordinates the development and submission of the Institute's project proposals to donors, in cooperation with Corporate Services;
• Provides quality control and harmonization for narrative project proposal developed by programmatic teams;
• Assists in negotiating contracts and amendments to contracts with donors, in cooperation with Corporate Services;
• Develops and maintains an overview of reporting obligations to donors;
• Develops and maintains a record of project proposals submitted and/or signed;
• Actively integrates the inclusion of a gender perspective in all activities;
• Performs such other tasks as assigned by the Director for External Relations and Governance Support, or any other delegate.

Qualifications and skills:

Level and type of formal education:

• University degree in political or social sciences, law, economics and/or finance, international development or a related subject.

Professional experience:

• Minimum seven (7) years of professional experience working in an international setting with financial issues. The incumbent is expected to possess relevant knowledge of the funding procedures of international organizations and major donors.

Functional competencies:

• Knowledge of the funding requirements and procedures of major donors;
• Good understanding of procurement procedures;
• Good social and inter-relational skills;
• Strong ability in time and issues management, assisting in the development and submission of funding proposals;
• Possess knowledge of major international trends and development in the field of democracy building;
• Good organizational skills and efficiency-driven perspective;
• Good sense of initiative, ability to set priorities and work under pressure with accuracy and dedication.

Work relationships:

• Extensive exposure to international and multicultural environments;
• Internal coordination and interaction within the External Relations and Governance Support team and with other International IDEA units and teams;
• Share knowledge with other colleagues within the External Relations and Governance Support team and/or other International IDEA units and, particularly to provide assistance and support in the organization-wide coordination of fundraising efforts.

Supervisory responsibilities:

• None, occasionally interns.

Independence of work:

• High independence of work, in direct expert-relationship with Regional Offices and programmatic teams at Headquarters;
• Work follows annual cycle of governance events, and programmatic planning as well as daily needs relating to fundraising efforts.

Impact of work:

• The work has a direct impact on the funding and strategic management of the Institute;
• The work has a direct impact on the relations to the Member States and donors;
• Errors or failure to perform may seriously affect the relations to the Member States and donors as owners and sources of funding as well as the public image of International IDEA.

Difficulty of work:

• Complex and intellectually demanding work;
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas and to transfer knowledge and skills;
• Good sense of initiative, ability to set priorities and work under pressure with accuracy and dedication.

Language skills:

• English: Fluent in both written and oral English;
• Other: Any other widely spoken language in an International IDEA priority region is considered an asset.

Computer skills:

• Knowledge of Office package and Internet, as well as financial management software.

Terms of Contract:

Three (3) Year Fixed Term Appointment. Salary entry point €5 381 per month.

Deadline for Applications:

Applications should be submitted no later than 7 September 2014.

International IDEA is an equal opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.